Indulgences are remissions of the penalty for sins in Catholic doctrine. They were abused in the medieval period and became a major issue in the Protestant Reformation. To receive an indulgence, one must confess, receive absolution, and perform an act. Indulgences allow people to atone for sin in life or suffer in hell. The practice of exchanging money for indulgences is prohibited today. Christians can intercede for one another to ask for indulgences. After the abuse of indulgences in medieval times, reforms were made in the doctrine. Today there are no plenary indulgences, although partial indulgences can be granted after someone has shown genuine contrition and works to atone for sin.
In Catholic doctrine, indulgences are remissions of the penalty for sins. To receive the indulgence, the sinner must first confess and receive absolution, and then must perform some sort of act to receive the indulgence. In the medieval period, indulgences were grossly abused and became a major sticking point in the Protestant Reformation, when people like Martin Luther argued that the Church was clearly deeply corrupt and in need of a return to early Christian values.
The theory behind the indulgence is that even after someone has sinned and been absolved, they will still have to do penance for the sin. Indulgences allow people a choice: they can atone for sin in life or suffer in hell. Sometimes the penance could be quite severe, and as a result, indulgence emerged as an alternative to things like wearing a hair shirt or other acts of hardship.
During the First Crusade, the first plenary or absolute indulgence was granted, with the Pope agreeing that all crusaders who confessed their sins would receive an absolute indulgence. In this case, participating in the crusade was seen as an action that deserved the granting of an indulgence.
To receive an indulgence, someone has several options. Many Christians in the medieval era chose to give alms, engage in sincere prayer, or fast, and these acts were considered appropriate penance for their sins. Over time, however, the practice of giving alms for indulgences became corrupted, and Christians were essentially permitted to purchase indulgences from Church officials. The practice of exchanging money with indulgences is explicitly prohibited today.
Christians can also intercede for one another to ask for indulgences. In a sense, whoever has more credit in the bank could lend to someone else, asking for another person’s leniency based on their own good behavior. This principle is based on the fundamental idea of the early Christian faith that all Christians are essentially the same body, with Christ at their head.
After the gross abuse of indulgences in medieval times, some reforms were made in the doctrine. Religious officials continue to encourage Christians to pray, give to charity, and do other works that might be considered worthy of indulgences, but Christians are reminded that such acts are simply an important part of Christian virtue. Today there are no plenary indulgences, although partial indulgences can be granted after someone has shown genuine contrition and works to atone for sin.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
